UK pensions minister shifts focus from providers to employers in growth agenda
‘Employers are sometimes treated as a sideshow in the pension system, but this hugely underestimates their influence’, says Torsten Bell
French regulator asks EU to strengthen PAI and transition plan rules in SFDR 2.0
AMF recommends that a credible transition plan should be based on a ‘recognised framework regarding compatibility with the Paris Agreement’
EESC calls for EU committee to monitor pension reforms’ social impact
European Economic and Social Committee wants an EU committee to monitor pension reforms, retirement incomes, inequality and poverty across Europe
NEST commits £3.5bn to advance emerging markets equity strategy
The new strategy will leverage Wellington’s deep, proprietary fundamental research across countries, sectors and companies in emerging markets
German economists warn against watering down pension reform package
Political pressure is mounting over Germany’s pension reforms, but 46 economists are urging the government to preserve the package intact
NBIM says key market stakeholders must pull together to guard shareholder rights
Norwegian SWF manager worried about erosion of shareholder rights in many markets, ‘putting investor confidence and long-term value creation at risk’
Finns oppose pension cuts despite fears of future benefit reductions
TELA chief Sirén warns Finns are ‘uncertain and unclear about the direction the pension system is heading’ as political debate continues ahead of 2027 elections
Aegon AM to transfer €26bn Dutch fiduciary business to Van Lanschot Kempen
Aegon AM’s Dutch fiduciary assets will shift to Van Lanschot Kempen as the firms deepen their partnership in alternative fixed income
Osmosis revises equity factors to capture innovation and resource risks
The firm has launched iSTOXX Osmosis Multi Factor Transition Indices, which offer single-factor, multi-factor and sustainability-integrated strategies
UK regulator drops mandatory climate reporting
Plus: Local Authority Pension Fund Forum calls for votes on transition plans
People moves: L&G names managing director for European asset management
Plus: AllianceBernstein picks president and CEO; Aptia appoints head of corporate pension consulting
EU labour mobility plans put cross-border pension tracking in focus
EU plans to digitise social security documents could reshape pension information for mobile workers across borders and abroad
Caisse des Dépôts to scrap new debt financing to oil producers
The restriction will apply to companies such as TotalEnergies from January 2027
Rothesay leads pension risk transfer market in first half with 28% market share
Number of insurers bidding on transactions increase by around 50%, says LCP
DTCP latest defence fund to attract Danish and Nordic capital
EIFO and Danica have committed DKK500m and DKK375m, respectively
Italian pension fund chief proposes fund to unlock domestic private markets
State-backed protection could help channel more of Italy’s €262.6bn pension savings into domestic private markets
EIOPA pledges to cut regulatory complexity across insurance, pensions
European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority outlines further steps to cut regulatory complexity across Europe’s insurance and occupational pensions sectors
FRR retenders transition management mandates
France’s pension reserve fund is seeking two providers to support portfolio changes under renewed transition management mandates
Arco Group pension fund completes £135m transfer to Clara-Pensions
The agreement forms part of a wider corporate transaction involving Arco, demonstrating the role superfunds can play in supporting M&A
Asset managers shift from product expansion to rationalisation
Northern Trust research finds that asset managers are cutting products, outsourcing operations and tightening costs as AI reshapes growth strategies
ESMA confirms it will rethink ESG fund-naming rules
ESMA will also tackle the taxonomy, electronic tagging and SFDR 2.0 in 2027
VBV Group integrates severance and pension funds’ boards
As part of the reshuffle, in October, Christian Reiss will assume the position of CEO of the severance fund
European investors stay bullish on energy transition despite geopolitical risks, IFM finds
Survey finds 81% of EMEA investors see long-term energy transition opportunities, even as geopolitical instability and inflation weigh on portfolios
Achmea sets up EM debt impact vehicle with ILX for Dutch pension funds
Netherlands’ fourth-largest pensions manager links up with specialist asset manager to provide access to loans originated by development banks
UK government urged to set clear timetable for increasing automatic contributions
Pensions UK research shows support from public and employers for increasing automatic contributions
ABP commits €1bn to European venture capital over three years
Europe’s scale-up funding gap is drawing €1bn from ABP, as Brussels seeks greater pension investment in venture capital
Dutch regulator backs tougher IORP II pension cost transparency
AFM warns proposed IORP II amendments could weaken transparency over direct and indirect pension costs
Austria pension reform targets longer-term investment and higher returns
Millions of Austrian employees could gain access to supplementary pensions as provident funds adopt longer-term investment strategies
Danish pension fund P+ awards €200m European private equity mandate
The appointment signals a growing demand among Nordic institutional investors for access to Europe’s private equity landscape
Glass Lewis, Clarity AI combine sustainability data and stewardship
Glass Lewis says Clarity AI data will not affect voting recommendations as the firms develop connected workflows for pension funds.
UBP shifts beyond 100% SBTi coverage
Union Bancaire Privée is replacing its target of achieving 100% Science Based Targets initiative coverage across its impact portfolios by end-2026
People moves: Pensions UK adds quartet to board
Rachel Brothwood was appointed chair of Pensions UK’s policy board, succeeding John Chilman, who will continue on the board until the end of his term in October 2027
Germany eyes pension funds to raise further €13bn for VC investments
The second phase of the country’s WIN Initiative aims to secure commitments of €13bn to invest in venture capital
Institutional investors commit £50m to back platform investing in Britain’s scale-ups
British Business Bank and NatWest commit £50m to Phoenix Court to support British science and technology companies from seed to scale-up
PKA commits DKK6.4bn to European unlisted companies
Danish pension fund PKA is investing DKK6.4bn in European unlisted companies, including DKK1.5bn in venture
Sweden’s AP7 selects Ortec Finance performance platform
A new performance platform will give AP7 deeper insight into investment decisions, currency exposures and hedging strategies
German pensions lobby calls for more investment flexibility as coverage stalls
Aba wants greater investment flexibility and wider access to occupational pensions as German coverage remains unchanged since 2019
BNP Paribas AM reorganises €1.7trn platform around alternatives, active management
Asset manager puts alternatives, active management and institutional distribution at the centre of its enlarged platform
Nature disclosures double but struggle to influence portfolio decisions
Investor adoption of TNFD reporting is accelerating, while inconsistent data and methodologies continue to hamper action on nature-related risks
UK drops in retirement index as health ranking plunges
A sharp fall in health rankings offsets improving material wellbeing as the UK slips one place overall, finds Natixis’ 2026 Global Retirement Index
Regulator to back industry efforts to remove barriers for UK growth investment
The Pensions Regulator’s report found that while pension schemes want to invest in UK growth, they face practical barriers
Italian pension funds urged to put more capital to work domestically
Domestic investment remains low among Italy’s industry-wide pension funds despite calls for greater support for the economy
Green supervision to focus on nature, transition plans and prudential treatment
Climate adaptation, resilience and scenario analysis will also be priorities for NGFS, according to latest guide
UK DC consolidation could channel up to £200bn into private markets
Consolidation could give larger DC schemes capacity to diversify across private equity, credit, infrastructure and UK assets
bpfBOUW picks BlackRock for €70bn fiduciary mandate despite climate concerns
The Dutch construction pension fund selects BlackRock as preferred candidate to manage €70bn pension assets under fiduciary management mandate
PFA reshapes investment operation
The number of full-time employees in PFA’s investment department has fallen from 136 in 2020 to 91
EIOPA backs Ireland’s pension consolidation but flags member-protection risks
Ireland’s pension consolidation can improve stability, but EIOPA chair stresses governance, costs and member protection during transition
Austria clears occupational pension reforms for final parliamentary vote
Higher-risk investment pools, pension transfers and greater strategy flexibility feature in proposed occupational pension reforms
LCP calls for defined benefit schemes to rethink de-risking in run-on
DB schemes pursuing run-on should rethink traditional de-risking strategies, which could otherwise destroy long-term value, LCP argues
Pension savers seek clearer picture of infrastructure investments
Research by IFM Investors, NEST and Border to Coast shows 82% of pension savers want more information on infrastructure investment
